AGRICULTURE, VETERINARY MEDICINE AND
NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS FROM IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

VIRUSES MAY BE ALTERNATIVE FOR SALMONELLA CONTROL IN PIGSIowa State microbiologists are working with viruses that may help reduce the occurrence of salmonella in pigs and pork. Bacteriophages reproduce in bacterial cells and kill them. Unlike most viruses, bacteriophages only can infect bacterial cells; they can't infect animal or human cells. D.L. Harris, Greg Phillips and grad student Nakhyung Lee want to know if injecting bacteriophages into pigs will reduce the occurrence of salmonella in the animals and, in turn, in pork. Antibiotics are currently used to combat salmonella in pigs, but many forms of bacteria, including salmonella, have developed resistance to the drugs. "There is a chance bacteriophages can replace antibiotics to control bacterial swine diseases and food-borne pathogens such as salmonella in pork," said Harris. Contact Harris, (515) 294-1664, or Dena Huisman, Office of Biotechnology, (515) 294-7356.

SCOTTISH EXPERT ON FATTY COMPOUNDS NAMED TO ISU CHAIRFrank Gunstone has been named to the Dean Helen LeBaron Hilton Endowed Chair in ISU's College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Gunstone, a professor emeritus at St. Andrews University in Scotland and a scientist at the Scottish Crops Research Institute, is the author of widely respected books on lipid chemistry and more than 300 papers on the synthesis of fatty acids and identification of novel fatty acids. During his month-long stay at ISU, Gunstone will teach and also give two public lectures: "Feeding the Multitude: Where is Tomorrow's Equivalent of the Five Loaves and Two Fishes?" 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 26, LeBaron Hall auditorium; and "Feeding the Favored: Tailor-Made Fats," 8 p.m., Oct. 28, in the Molecular Biology Building's auditorium. The lectures are sponsored by the College of Family and Consumer Sciences and ISU's Committee on Lectures. Contact Suzanne Hendrich, Associate Dean, Family and Consumer Sciences, (515) 294-0859, or Mary Jo Glanville, Family and Consumer Sciences, (515) 294-8799.

COORDINATOR NAMED FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY OUTREACHMichael Zeller has been named Iowa State's first biotechnology outreach education coordinator. Zeller, a high school teacher at Woodward-Granger Community School, will begin in January. He will develop and conduct workshops for K-12 teachers and students, extension service professionals, adult educators, industry personnel and the public. Many of the educational activities will be conducted in ISU's new Biotechnology Outreach Education Center, which is scheduled for completion by year's end. In 1992, Zeller won an Iowa Governor's Teacher Award for Community Involvement for designing a molecular biology science program. He has served on the governing board of the Iowa Coalition for Mathematics and Science, the Pioneer Hi-Bred International Biotechnology Advisory Committee and the ISU Biotechnology Education Advisory Council. Since 1997, Zeller has taught biotechnology education workshops held at ISU for teachers of science, agriculture, and family and consumer sciences. Contact Walter Fehr, Biotechnology, (515) 294-6865, or Glenda Webber, Biotechnology, (515) 294-9818.

OCT. 16 MEETING TO KICK OFF PLANT SCIENCES INSTITUTEIowa State University's Plant Sciences Institute will hold an inaugural colloquium, "Celebrating Plant Sciences at Iowa State University," on Saturday, Oct. 16, in Lush Auditorium, Kildee Hall. The institute, which was approved by the Board of Regents last month, is the umbrella organization for a group of ISU centers, each focused on a specific area of plant science. Colin Scanes, interim director of the institute, and the leaders of the centers will give presentations. The program, which runs from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., is open to the public. Contact Scanes, (515) 294-1823, or Brian Meyer, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-0706.

NATIONAL SWINE CENTER TO BE DEDICATED OCT. 30The National Swine Research and Information Center will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 30, on the Iowa State University campus. ISU and the USDA's Agricultural Research Service will jointly operate the building, which will conduct research on pork industry issues such as odor, water quality, animal health and worker safety. Speakers will include ISU President Martin Jischke and College of Agriculture Dean David Topel. Contact Karen Bolluyt, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-5616.

EXPLORE CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE AT ISU ON NOV. 9There will be a little bit of something for everyone at the 1999 Iowa State University Agriculture Career Day. Mike Gaul, director of agriculture career services, expects 145 employers to be represented at this year's event, which is the largest university ag career day in the country. The annual job fair, which is open to the public, is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 9, in ISU's Memorial Union. More than 2,000 students, alumni and visitors are expected to attend. ISU has a web page (www.ag.iastate.edu/student/careerday.html) featuring participating companies and organizations. It is updated weekly. Contact Gaul, (515) 294-4725, or Megan Kuhn, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-2957.

ISU AG ALUMNI SOCIETY ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERSISU's College of Agriculture Alumni Society will honor four of its own at an event preceding ISU's homecoming football game on Oct. 30. The winners of the society's annual awards are: Duane Acker of Atlantic, who served as USDA assistant secretary of agriculture for science and education, will receive the Meritorious Service Award; Reg Clause of Jefferson, owner of Clause Farms, will receive the Production Agriculture Award; David Hettinga of Minneapolis, vice president and chief technical officer at Land O'Lakes, will receive the Professional Agribusiness Award; and Harold Hodson, Jr., of Ames, founder of Swine Genetic International, will receive the Innovators in Agriculture Award. Contact Ed Adcock, Agriculture Information, (515) 294-2314.